Overview
Vancouver is a city in southwest Washington State, immediately north of the border with Oregon. The city was established around Fort Vancouver, a fur trading outpost dating back to 1824, making this one of the oldest continuously-inhabited European communities in the Pacific Northwest. Two bridges across the Columbia River connect Vancouver to the rest of the Portland Metropolitan Area.
7 sights · 6 things to do · 5 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 5 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Vancouver
Pearson Air Museum
The museum is on historic Pearson Field, the oldest active airfield in the United States. The museum is also home to the country's oldest wooden hangar. Built in 1918 as part of the U.S. Army Spruce Division, it has been…
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Built in 1825, Fort Vancouver was a fur trading outpost and home to the Hudson's Bay Company. It's right outside Downtown Vancouver and next to the Pearson Air Field and Museum. It's a great spot to stop and have a picni…
Esther Short Park
The oldest public square in the Pacific Northwest, established in 1853. The park includes a playground, rose garden, fountains and a variety of public art pieces. In the summer, Esther Short hosts a variety of concerts a…
Clark County Historical Museum
Vancouver Waterfront Park
Kiggins Theatre
Newly renovated 1930s movie theatre showing second-run movies. Grab a drink before the show in the upstairs lounge.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 82°F; winter lows dip to about 36°F. Wettest: Dec and Nov. (climate data from nearby Portland)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- PDX Portland International Airport, Portland — 3 mi away (major hub). Directions
- SLE Salem-Willamette Valley Airport/McNary Field, Salem — 54 mi away. Directions
Vancouver is closer to the Portland International Airport (PDX) than most of Portland.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Pearson Air Museum, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, Officers Row
- Lunch The Smokin' Oak Pit & Drinkery
- Afternoon Kiggins Theatre, Clark County Historical Museum
- Dinner Sakura of Japan
- Evening McMenamins on the Columbia
Day 2
- Morning Big Al's
- Lunch Philly Bilmos
- Afternoon Battle Ground Lake State Park
- Dinner Sushi Hana
Day 3
- Morning Alderbrook Park
- Lunch Burgerville
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Vancouver is the fourth largest city in Washington (and is more populous than all cities in Oregon with the exception of Portland), but is obscured by its close proximity to and economic reliance on Portland, OR.
Get in
By plane
Vancouver is closer to the Portland International Airport (PDX) than most of Portland.
From Portland Airport, take I-205 north across the Columbia River to reach Vancouver, then follow SR 14 west to downtown, about a 20-minute drive.
By local bus, from Fisher's Landing in the east part of town, the #65 bus goes down to the Parkrose/Sumner Transit where passengers transfer to the MAX Red Line train to the airport. However, in the afternoon and at night on weekdays, the #65 bus is superseded by the #67 bus, connecting to the airport instead of Parkrose/Sumner Transit Center.
By car
- Interstate 5 (I-5) passes north-south through the city, from most major cities in western Washington and western Oregon.
- Interstate 205 (I-205) serves as an auxiliary highway around the east side of Vancouver through Camas, East Portland, Gladstone, Oregon City and back into I-5 south of Portland at Exit 282.
- Washington State Route 14 (SR-14) provides access through the Columbia River Gorge along the Washington side of the Columbia River. SR-14 begins/ends in downtown Vancouver.
By train
- Routes stopping in Vancouver:
- Amtrak Cascades operates between Vancouver, BC and Eugene via Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Everett, Edmonds, Seattle, Tukwila, Tacoma, Lacey (Olympia), Centralia, Kelso (Longview), Vancouver, WA, Portland, Oregon City, Salem, and Albany. There are two round trips daily along the portion between Vancouver and Seattle, four round trips daily along the portion between Seattle and Portland, and two round trips daily along the portion between Portland and Eugene. No train departures travel the whole length of the route. Additional service between Vancouver and Seattle, and between Portland to Eugene are provided on the Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach.
- Coast Starlight operates daily between Seattle and Los Angeles. Stops include Tacoma, Portland, Eugene, Klamath Falls, Dunsmuir, Redding, Chico, Sacramento, Davis, Martinez, San Francisco (Emeryville), Oakland, San Jose, Salinas, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Van Nuys, and Burbank. Between Seattle and Eugene, it makes the same stops as the Amtrak Cascades, except it skips Tukwila and Oregon City.
- Empire Builder operating daily between Seattle/Portland and Chicago including stops at Spokane, Glacier National Park, Fargo, Saint Paul, and Milwaukee. The trains split into separate branches between Seattle and Spokane, and between Portland and Spokane, while operating as trains consisting of train cars from both branches between Spokane and Chicago.
By bus
Go Greyhound & Flixbus
Portland Curbside stop on NW Station Way, north of Union Station. Greyhound buses traveling between Portland and Seattle stop only in Tacoma and Olympia. NO service into Vancouver, WA. Therefore, passengers would have to travel down into downtown Portland by C-Tran/Tri Met and transfer to Greyhound or another bus line to get where they're going.
Get around
By public transit
C-TRAN is Clark County's public bus system. Buses runs throughout the area, serving riders as far north as Ridgefield/La Center, as far east as Camas/Washougal and south across the river to Portland.
In addition to routes within Clark County, C-TRAN operates express buses to downtown Portland, Lloyd Center &/or Marquam Hill (routes 105, 134, 157, 190, and 199), as well as regional service to Parkrose/Sumner MAX station (route 41 from downtown Vancouver to Fisher Landing; route 65 from Fisher Landing to NE Portland and MAX Red Line to downtown Portland or the airport) and to Delta Park/Vanport MAX Station (route 60 to N Portland from downtown Vancouver and MAX Yellow Line to downtown Portland).
Fares on C-Tran are $1.80 for trips within Clark County; $2.50 for regional service (C-Tran service to Vanport and Parkrose/Sumner MAX stations in Portland); and $3.85 for express C-Tran service to downtown Portland. Regional and express fares can be used to transfer to TriMet.
The regional Hop FastPass smartcard works on C-TRAN as well as on TriMet in Portland and can be purchased at Fred Meyer and Safeway stores in Clark County. See the Hop FastPass section under Portland for more details.
By car
By bicycle
See
See Pearson Air Museum
The museum is on historic Pearson Field, the oldest active airfield in the United States. The museum is also home to the country's oldest wooden hangar. Built in 1918 as part of the U.S. Army Spruce Division, it has been used as an airplane hangar since 1921. It even housed Italian prisoners of war during W.W.II. The museum is the first step in a three-phase project to recreate a pre-WWII Army Air Corps Field that existed at Pearson Field in the 1920s and 1930s.
See Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Built in 1825, Fort Vancouver was a fur trading outpost and home to the Hudson's Bay Company. It's right outside Downtown Vancouver and next to the Pearson Air Field and Museum. It's a great spot to stop and have a picnic or just to look at the handful of old buildings and displays.
See Water Resources Education Center (Water Center)
Enjoy the hands-on, interactive activities in the Exhibit Hall. View the nature-inspired art in the White Sturgeon Art Gallery. Take in the panoramic view of the Columbia River from the Center's balconies. Get a closer look at the rolling Columbia River and nearly 50 acres (20 hectares) of wildlife-rich wetlands from the Marine Park Overlook that also connects visitors to Vancouver's Renaissance Trail, a paved waterfront trail favored by walkers, runners and bicyclists.
Do
Do Alderbrook Park
A family friendly, magical forest hidden in the foothills of Larch Mountain. A variety of activities are available for all ages: trackless train, pedal boats, catch and release fishing, bounce houses, mini-golf, horses and pony rides. Discover the enchanted children's area where lies a life-size, beached pirates ship. Amenities include swimming pool, bath houses, picnic pavilions and guest houses.
Do Battle Ground Lake State Park
The state park is covered by an evergreen forest that surrounds a crater lake of volcanic origin. The park includes a swimming area, boat launch, campground, and cabin rentals. Hiking and bridle trails ring the lake and criss-cross the summit area. Rainbow trout and coastal cutthroat trout are stocked during late winter through spring.
Do Vancouver Lake Regional Park
Learn
Buy
Eat
Eat Burgerville
Founded in 1961 and still based here in Vancouver, the NW's own fast food chain with a decidedly NW flavor promoting sustainable practices and fresh, local ingredients. Great burgers and traditional fast food fare. Amazing seasonal items including sweet potato fries, asparagus, strawberries, blackberries, onion rings and more. The original Burgerville USA was actually in the building next door to this location.
Eat Sushi Hana
Sushi World is one of the best and cheapest places in the Portland/Vancouver area to get sushi. It's clean, friendly, but sometimes crowded, especially on nights when they're offering a discount. Plates travel around to booths and bars while staff in the kitchen and in the hub of the restaurant replenish stocks. Options vary from nigiri or rolls to noodles to dessert items. Offerings are invariably fresh, and special items are available from the sushi chefs on request. It is very possible to eat your fill here and get out the door for $10 per person.
Eat Sakura of Japan
Looking for the best Japanese food in Vancouver? A 5 minute drive north of the Downtown area will bring you to the suburb of Hazel Dell where Sakura of Japan is located. The staff is friendly and the food is amazing. The restaurant prepares many Japanese dishes, including Teriyaki Chicken, Yakisoba Noodles, and Miso Soup. The servings are generous and there's always some left over to bring home. And the best part of it all is the food is cooked right in front of your eyes, a la Beni Hana's.
Eat Philly Bilmos
An east coast style deli serving the best in cheese steaks, fettuccine, and cheesecake.
Eat The Smokin' Oak Pit & Drinkery
Excellent Texas-style barbecue: brisket, pork, sausages, and Frito pie.
Drink
Drink McMenamins on the Columbia
Not only do they have fantastic food, but they also have a full-service bar. Located along Vancouver's water front on the Columbia River, the pub is known for the many beers it makes and serves. The atmosphere is very relaxed and appealing. McMenamins is a great place to visit and enjoy drinks, food, and an incredible view.
Sleep
Go next
- Portland — Take I-5 or I-205 south (which are the only two crossings) and enjoy.
- Olympia, Tacoma, and Seattle — Two to three hours north on I-5.
- Beacon Rock State Park, near Stevenson — Hike up the 1-mile (2 km) trail to the top of this old volcanic core, the second-largest free-standing monolith in the world (after the Rock of Gibraltar, to spectacular views of the Gorge, the river, and wildlife.
- Mount St. Helens — Get great views of the mountain from the observatory, and explore the Ape Caves lava tunnels with a good flashlight.
Nearby
Portland
City / town · 66 listings · 8 mi away
Camas
City / town · 4 listings · 10 mi away
Sauvie Island
Rural area · 12 listings · 11 mi away
Gresham
City / town · 13 listings · 12 mi away
Troutdale
City / town · 14 listings · 12 mi away
Washougal
City / town · 15 listings · 13 mi away
Milwaukie
City / town · 9 listings · 13 mi away
Beaverton
City / town · 37 listings · 14 mi away
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